DISTRICT HOSPITALS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 June 1942, Page 4

DISTRICT HOSPITALS

MASTERTON & GREYTOWN FALL OF CHIMNEYS PATIENTS SUFFER NO INJURY. EMERGENCY SCHEME IN FULL OPERATION. Hospitals in the Wairarapa, as far as is known at present, suffered no serious damage. Everything was done by the nursing staff and others for the comfort of patients and no one was injured. The patients faced the situation very well indeed, and the nurses worked magnificently making them comfortable. The Masterton Hospital Emergency Precautions Service immediately went into action, practically every member being on duty. The emergency lighting plant was set in operation by 11.35 p.m., supplying lights throughout the hospital. Drs. Parr, Prior and Berney were in attendance, ready to deal with any casualties. Only one casualty was admitted for treatment. Within half an hour of the earthquake soldiers from a nearby camp arrived at the hospital, ready to do anything required of them. They did wonderful work in clearing up debris from chimneys. At Masterton Hospital a considerable number of chimneys fell down. Some crashed through the ceilings into the corridors and others fell outside. Further chimneys were badly damaged and had to be taken down. The building has not yet been inspected by engineers. It appears that some portions may have been wrenched slightly and a full inspection is to be made as soon, as possible. . In the meantime the hospital is working normally. A large quantity of drugs and crockery was lost in the earthquake. A spontaneous offer of help came from the Waipawa Hospital Board, Waipukurau. At 11.15 a.m. on Thursday, the secretary of the board arrived at the Masterton Hospital with an ambulance and said his board was ready to take any patients if that was necessary. He had heard that Masterton had suffered severely. The action of the board and the secretary was greatly appreciated by the Masterton Hospital authorities. Chimneys also fell at the Greytown Hospital. In one case the bricks crashed into a ward but no one was injured. There was practically no damage at the Pahiatua Hospital. The Managing-Secretary, Mr Norman Lee, said he would like to thank the Army and members of the public who called at the hospital to see if they could be of any assistance. Two electricians arrived to help the engineer and a man whose wife was in hospital fired a boiler for the hot water service. Many others called and offered assistance.